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The Tent-less Outdoor Sleeping Guide
For some people, the definition of “rustic” means simply heading out into the woods – even if you bring a camper with a bathroom, a sink, and a microwave. For others, “rustic” means an experience that at least has some amenities like tents to keep your dry and covered from rain. But for the die-hard campers, there’s only one definition of rustic: tent-less camping, including true under-the-stars sleeping. If you’ve always wanted to do this, here’s your guide.
What to bring: Even if you’re not bringing a tent, you’ll need to bring something in order to keep you warm and separate your back from the hard, rocky ground. Many people bring a simple sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and possibly a camping cot, in order to sleep outdoors.
The good thing about sleeping without a tent is that you can stay warm near – but not too near – a fire. Even so, you’ll want to stay warm for the entire night, including after the fire dies down on its own. Make sure you bring enough to keep you warm and relatively comfortable when you sleep on the ground.
As for your pillow, what you do will be up to you. You can’t exactly lay your pillow down on the ground, so try to bring some sort of tarp or bag that can separate your pillow from the dirt.Watch the weather: When you’re thinking about camping in a tent, knowing it’s going to rain is less important knowledge than when you’re sleeping outdoors. You’ll want to be sure that a high-pressure system is moving through the area you intend on sleeping in; these systems keep things clear – and usually provide for better views of the stars anyway. If there’s going to be rain, you probably won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep, so you might want to consider throwing in the towel and simply sleeping under a tarp or simply a tent.
All in all, sleeping outdoors can be a pleasant experience, but it’s not without its risks. You’ll want to be aware of local insects and wildlife before you sleeping without shelter. When in doubt, simply sleep in your tent so that you can stay dry and not worry about everything that comes from sleeping outdoors. You might just be glad you did.
Photo Credits: anoldent
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Tent Product Review: Eureka’s Apex 2XT Adventure
When it comes to camping, there are campers, and there are campers who enjoy treks through what’s known as the “back country.” Depending on what kind of camper you are – either a casual camper with a family in tow or a borderline professional – you’ll want to get a tent that’s right fo you.
The Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent
is a straightforward, no-thrills tent that emphasizes performance over entertainment: you casual campers might want to try a different one. But if you’re looking for a tent product that is lightweight, flexible, and sturdy, the Apex Adventure is a camping tent that you’ll want to take with you on those trips through the back country across North America.
What does a tent that offers “performance” really do? In addition to being lightweight – hence easy to carry – a tent like the Apex Adventure is built for ideal storage space and ventilation, allowing for comfortable nights that protect you and your equipment from getting wet.
It also emphasizes the experience of camping, with a wall of “no-see-um” mesh that is built for stargazing on clear nights in the summer. This means that the Apex Adventure is built to be your home away from home when you’re on a serious camping trip that tests your resolve. It’s also a welcome respite from a tough day of building fires, gathering wood, hiking, and exploring.A clothesline loop and flashlight loop are also included if you really want to get serious about your camping trip and, you know, do your own laundry.
What are the disadvantages to a tent like the Eureka Apex Adventure? Unless you’re a hardcore “casual camper,” this tent could also work wel for you because of its simplicity and its structure – built for durability even in tough winds.
This means it’s not, shall we say, built for recreational camping, the way you might camp if you’re just camping out with the kids in the backyard. Many of the options featured in the Adventure would be lost on these “urban” campers, as storage space would become less of a worry and entertainment would become the top priority.
The Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure also weighs in at a hefty 99 dollars or so, making it an expensive tent for a two-person option. There are better ways to spend your money if you don’t plan on camping that much in the future.
If, however, you’re looking for a tent that will last through several hiking and camping trips per year and will support you when you feel adventurous, you might want to look into a tent like the Apex Adventure. Durability and security become higher priorities for the camper looking to travel the back-country, more worried about keeping him or herself dry with a tent they can trust than anything else.
This leads to the conclusion that the Apex is a tent for the hardcore camper, the ambitious camper, but not for the camper with kids who’s looking for a more casual time.
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How to Stay Safe During Your Camping Trip
Camping can be a dangerous undertaking because it requires you to spend an extended time in the great outdoors. If you’re planning to take your children camping with you, then you need to spend extra time examining certain precautions that you need to take. What should you worry about when you’re about ready to go, though? This article will give you a few common concerns and what you should do to prepare for them.
Watch the Weather
Being outdoors, it’s very important that you pay very close attention to the forecast when you’re going camping. If you’re going in the winter months it can be extremely dangerous if you camp in the midst of a snowstorm because you could easily run out of food and have no way of getting back to civilization. Be sure to watch the weather reports and if you’re already at your campsite you can always ask any rangers or other campers you see what the forecast looks like.
Bring the Right Supplies
Brining supplies with you can help you feel much safer during your trip as it offers you a backup and can be used anytime an unexpected problem occurs. Common supplies include: bug spray, extra food, and medications. It’s extremely important that you bring any medication that a family or friend needs in case they have any issue during the trip. You should also bring a first aid kit as it’s very easy to be injured by falling or possibly by an animal in an extended visit.
Plan Ahead
Perhaps the best thing you can do before going on your camping trip is planning ahead. Plan things like where you’re going to camp and for how long you’re going to stay. This planning should include both of the previous items, watching the weather and considering the essential supplies. It’s important that you think of any possible problem that can occur while you’re camping and be ready to address it accordingly.
Use Common Sense
Not using common sense is probably the cause of most problems that occur in the woods. Don’t attempt to do anything that could be potentially fatal, and make sure you follow basic camping guidelines such as leaving food out near or inside of the tents. With a little common sense it should be easy for you to avoid any problems that you could experience.
If you follow the above advice it should be easy for you to plan a fun and safe camping trip for you and your family.
Photo Credits: Omer Simkha
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How to Build the Ideal Campfire – Part I
Any dedicated campers out there know that the campfire is the lifeblood of your campsite. Without it, you can’t boil water, prepare food, or have heat on a cold night. With it, you’ll be able to do all of those things and more – but the trick is, you have to know how to make a good one.
This article is part I of II in a series on building the ideal campfire so that you can have the most thorough information possible. Since part of creating a great campfire is to be thorough in your preparation and your knowledge, this initial research will be an integral part of learning how to create a campfire that lasts, provides plenty of heat, and gives plenty of flame for cooking. Let’s take a look at the steps to accomplishing this.
Tools to have handy: A bucket of water, a shovel, matcher/lighter.First, let’s tackle site preparation. You’re not going to just pile up a bunch of wood and set it aflame – that might make a quick fire, especially if you’ve got lighter fluid with you, but it won’t make a great camping fire. The difference begins with the preparation of your campsite.
For your first site preparation step, choose a location for the fire. Typically, this will be lower than all of the other areas – including where you have already set up your tents. You’ll want to create as much space as possible around your fire so that you can bring plenty of chairs up to it when night falls. You’ll also want to avoid low, overhanging branches.
Second, clear this location of debris and any flammable items. Get rid of garbage and other objects that might get in the way.
Third, pick exactly where you fire will be and dig a large but shallow circle, square, or rectangle. Keep the dirt in a nearby pile – dirt can make a good fire extinguisher for later on. This in addition to the bucket of water you have prepared will help you contain the fire should the need arise.
Fourth, gather as many nearby rocks and large stones as you can and make a ring around the area you dug. This will create a barrier between you and the fire, and since rocks aren’t flammable, will help control the fire and keep it contained.
Like building a skyscraper, much of the work into a great structure goes into a solid foundation that will accommodate large additions. In the next article, we’ll use this campfire site as the foundation for a great campfire.
Photo Credits: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/wili/”>wili_hybrid</a>
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Choosing Your Campsite
So you’ve just decided to going camping with your family, but wait, where is the best spot to set up camp? A properly picked campsite can make your family outing much more enjoyable and perhaps you will find a great spot that will become a traditional spot where your family camps every year. So how do you find that camp spot? This article will provide you with a few tips to find that elusive campsite.
1) Ask.
This is such simple advice that it’s often overlooked, but a good recommendation from other longtime campers could be the easiest way to find a great spot. If you’re camping in a park make sure you ask any professional questions like “What spot do you think would be good for my family?” or “What places have you recommended to other families before?” It’s also worth noting that internet forums and books are great tools for researching and making a decision.
2) Remember Your Needs.
This tip may not directly help you choose a new campsite, but it will help to narrow down your list. It’s very important that you consider any needs that your family has and choose your campsite accordingly. If it’s important that you can look up and see the constellations, try to choose a spot where there aren’t as many trees or obstructions in your way. Essentially you’re a choosing a campsite based on the interests of your family or group. This will make locating and traversing to your daily activities much easier. Also consider any medical needs, you may want to camp closer to outside assistance of any friend/family has a serious medical condition.
3) Watch The Forecast.
The weather may not always be a factor, but you should also pay attention to the forecast when choosing your campsite. If it’s going to rain, a campsite under the shelter of trees would be preferred to a wide open field. It’s also important to note that during the winter seasons the weather can pose dangerous to you and your family. If the forecast predicts large amounts of snow, it’s important that you and your family remain close to outside assistance in case of an emergency.
Choosing your campsite can prove to be a daunting task, but it becomes much easy when you’re able to eliminate a few of your options. Just remember when choosing to pay special attention to the needs of the people you’re camping with, and extraneous factors such as the weather and park conditions.
Photo Credits: species_snob
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Wilderness Camping
Many camping enthusiasts are looking for a fresh and unique idea for a camping getaway. They are indulging in wilderness camping. Wilderness camping has many advantages such as having no need to hurry and no schedule to follow. It is a chance to commune with nature in some of the most attractive wilderness camping areas in the nation, many of which are not well-known to the general public. This kind of outdoor activity offers people the chance to relax and experience that indescribable feeling of being at peace with nature. They also have the luxury of all the time in the world to explore the beauty that nature is offering.
If you already love wilderness camping or are about to embark upon it then you might not be too familiar with some of the wilderness locations. Located near Big Sur in California you will barely find Andrew Molera Park as it is fairly primitive for wilderness campers. There are only about twenty sites to camp in and it is very desolate indeed. Interested campers should find out what kind of regulations are in place that should be complied with. This park offers wilderness camping trails for various outdoor activities that include several different types of landscape to choose from.
In North Dakota, look for Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Park, it is the home of wilderness camping areas. There are nearly 30,000 acres to explore. Campers visiting this park can spot many different types of birds and animals, including hawks, deer, bald eagles and even the occasional elk. You’ll find more than eighty-four miles of trails that lead into the more inaccessible areas of the park. Wilderness campers must get a permit.Haleakala Park is a gorgeous spot in Hawaii which gives visitors a rare chance to do some wilderness camping in an area that is both primitive and breathtaking. There are two campsites that can only be reached by foot. These two campsites each offer a different experience for wilderness camping. Campers can get free permits to camp at either site, and there are various rules for camping in this park.
Ahjumawi Lava Springs Park gets its name from the Native American word, “ahjumawi” which means “where the waters come together.” This wilderness camping area is at one of the biggest fresh water spring systems in the nation. The camping areas are unique in that they can only be accessed by water, making sure you have the privacy you are craving. Visitors can enjoy the rustic beauty of the area that includes pristine water shores, places to view lava rock and scenery that includes Mt. Shasta. This is located in California.
Some very adventurous have decided to find their own campsites or in some instances create their own camping locations by entering some of the most unexplored areas imaginable. There is a large degree of risk involved and before attempting this you should always make sure that you have a way to access outside communication in the event of an emergency.
Photo Credits: TroyMason
